This year is shaping up to be a strong year for new superyacht arrivals, but there have also been several major yacht disasters that have made headlines across the world. On October 2 a 24 metre luxury yacht was stolen from Miami Beach Marina and subsequently crashed into at least six other boats, according to local police. After the crash, witnesses said the thief abandoned the yacht and jumped into the water. Police are still trying to hunt down the suspect and no-one has yet been arrested. Miami Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard arrived at the scene shortly after the crash in a bid to prevent the yacht from taking on water but unfortunately had to stop once it began to capsize. While the affected boats suffered severe damage as a result of the crash, no one was injured.

Vast cruise ship Carnival Spirit had to come to the aid of 37.2 metre Masteka 2 on Tuesday (October 3) when she began taking on water while she was more than 250 kilometres away from Port Macquarie in Australia. The two stewardesses were taken on board Carnival Spirit as a safety precaution while a further four crew members stayed on board to try and stop the boat from sinking. Carnival Sprit has remained alongside Masteka 2 and the Australian Maritime Authority is also helping to recover the yacht. Two de-watering pumps, emergency supplies and extra fuel were delivered to the crew by a plane. A tugboat from Sydney Harbour has now been sent to retrieve the yacht but she is not expected to make it back to shore until Thursday. Delivered in 2009 Masteka 2 is a successful charter yacht based in Sydney Harbour. She offers accommodation for up to 12 guests and is also available for day and cooperate charters. At this stage it is not clear what caused the superyacht to take on water.

Vast cruise ship Carnival Spirit had to come to the aid of 37.2 metre Masteka 2 on Tuesday (October 3) when she began taking on water while she was more than 250 kilometres away from Port Macquarie in Australia. The two stewardesses were taken on board Carnival Spirit as a safety precaution while a further four crew members stayed on board to try and stop the boat from sinking.

Carnival Sprit has remained alongside Masteka 2 and the Australian Maritime Authority is also helping to recover the yacht. Two de-watering pumps, emergency supplies and extra fuel were delivered to the crew by a plane. A tugboat from Sydney Harbour has now been sent to retrieve the yacht but she is not expected to make it back to shore until Thursday.

Delivered in 2009 Masteka 2 is a successful charter yacht based in Sydney Harbour. She offers accommodation for up to 12 guests and is also available for day and cooperate charters. At this stage it is not clear what caused the superyacht to take on water.

The 31 metre motor yacht UN1K exploded in Malaysia on September 16, reportedly capsizing. The yacht was en route to Singapore from a yacht club in Langkawi, and it was only a short distance into its cruise when it exploded off Penang. As Dockwalk reports, three crewmembers were injured in the explosion and one person has been reported missing. The search and rescue operation for the missing man, Lucas Bondzean, has been hampered by bad weather. MMEA Northern Region Maritime Director First Admiral Tan Kwon Kee told local news outlet Asia One that engine problems caused the explosion.

The 31 metre motor yacht UN1K exploded in Malaysia on September 16, reportedly capsizing. The yacht was en route to Singapore from a yacht club in Langkawi, and it was only a short distance into its cruise when it exploded off Penang.

As Dockwalk reports, three crewmembers were injured in the explosion and one person has been reported missing. The search and rescue operation for the missing man, Lucas Bondzean, has been hampered by bad weather.

The 35 metre Eser Yat motor yacht Moon caught fire in Al Hamra Marina in the UAE city of Ras Al Khaimah on September 21. After local firefighters failed to put out the blaze in the marina, the flaming yacht was towed out to sea, presumably to be left to burn out completely. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but the damage to the superstructure is significant, as this video shows: Launched by Eser Yat in 2000, Moon is a tri-deck displacement yacht built from a wooden hull and superstructure. Accommodation is for 14 guests split across seven cabins, while her twin MAN engines generate a total output of 1,600hp.

The 35 metre Eser Yat motor yacht Moon caught fire in Al Hamra Marina in the UAE city of Ras Al Khaimah on September 21. After local firefighters failed to put out the blaze in the marina, the flaming yacht was towed out to sea, presumably to be left to burn out completely.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but the damage to the superstructure is significant, as this video shows:

Launched by Eser Yat in 2000, Moon is a tri-deck displacement yacht built from a wooden hull and superstructure. Accommodation is for 14 guests split across seven cabins, while her twin MAN engines generate a total output of 1,600hp.

5 - Time Out runs aground in Palm Beach Time Out runs aground in Palm Beach

A skipper who admitted to boating under the influence was arrested on September 7 after running his 25 metre motor yacht aground in Palm Beach, Florida in the early hours of the morning, Dockwalk reports. Thomas Henry Baker, 63, told local authorities that he had been drinking Long Island iced teas before the incident. In a statement, they added that he failed to "navigate his vessel into the Palm Beach Inlet and ran the vessel into the beach". The yacht in question was identified as Time Out, the 24.51 metre that was launched in 2001 by GM Yachting. Local reports add that the vessel was successfully recovered from the beach without any major damage.

A skipper who admitted to boating under the influence was arrested on September 7 after running his 25 metre motor yacht aground in Palm Beach, Florida in the early hours of the morning, Dockwalk reports.

Thomas Henry Baker, 63, told local authorities that he had been drinking Long Island iced teas before the incident. In a statement, they added that he failed to "navigate his vessel into the Palm Beach Inlet and ran the vessel into the beach".

The yacht in question was identified as Time Out, the 24.51 metre that was launched in 2001 by GM Yachting. Local reports add that the vessel was successfully recovered from the beach without any major damage.

6 - Multiple yachts burned in New York marina fire Multiple yachts burned in New York marina fire

Patchogue Shores Marina in Long Island, New York was the site of a devastating yacht fire on August 16. The blaze broke out at around 7pm local time and raged on into the night, with high winds spreading the flames to neighbouring vessels. Six departments were called in to tackle the blaze, which was contained after five hours. The size of the largest yacht damaged in the fire is as yet unknown and an investigation into the cause of the marina fire is ongoing. Local authorities do not believe that it was intentional. Read on for seven more major yacht disasters that have unfolded in 2016.

Patchogue Shores Marina in Long Island, New York was the site of a devastating yacht fire on August 16. The blaze broke out at around 7pm local time and raged on into the night, with high winds spreading the flames to neighbouring vessels.

Six departments were called in to tackle the blaze, which was contained after five hours. The size of the largest yacht damaged in the fire is as yet unknown and an investigation into the cause of the marina fire is ongoing. Local authorities do not believe that it was intentional.

Read on for seven more major yacht disasters that have unfolded in 2016.

The 33.2 metre Cyrus yacht Perla Nero ran aground in Croatia’s Sibenik channel on Friday August 5. Footage of the stricken yacht on Monday (August 8) showed that it was still grounded, with local publication sibenik.in reporting that the owners are seeking advice from their insurers on whether the vessel can be refloated or if they will have to resort to an expensive craning operation. There is a five-day legal deadline for the yacht to be removed, after which point fines will be levied against the owners. No injuries or pollution were reported following the grounding of Perla Nero, however she is currently being marketed as a yacht for sale. Launched in 2007 and refitted in 2010, Perla Nero features accommodation for ten guests split across five cabins.

The 33.2 metre Cyrus yacht Perla Nero ran aground in Croatia’s Sibenik channel on Friday August 5. Footage of the stricken yacht on Monday (August 8) showed that it was still grounded, with local publication sibenik.in reporting that the owners are seeking advice from their insurers on whether the vessel can be refloated or if they will have to resort to an expensive craning operation. There is a five-day legal deadline for the yacht to be removed, after which point fines will be levied against the owners.

No injuries or pollution were reported following the grounding of Perla Nero, however she is currently being marketed as a yacht for sale. Launched in 2007 and refitted in 2010, Perla Nero features accommodation for ten guests split across five cabins.

The 30 metre superyacht Bellissima had to be rescued by local tugs on August 3, after she ran aground in Pender Harbour at around 14:30 local time. Quick-thinking local sailors alerted the Canadian Coastguard to the stricken superyacht, which was taking on water and appeared to be at risk of sinking, with her transom sitting unusually low in the water. By early evening the situation had stabilised, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada releasing a statement to say that "the vessel is currently floating at its regular height, and anchored in Pender Harbour. No pollution [is] observed at this time."

The 30 metre superyacht Bellissima had to be rescued by local tugs on August 3, after she ran aground in Pender Harbour at around 14:30 local time. Quick-thinking local sailors alerted the Canadian Coastguard to the stricken superyacht, which was taking on water and appeared to be at risk of sinking, with her transom sitting unusually low in the water.

By early evening the situation had stabilised, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada releasing a statement to say that "the vessel is currently floating at its regular height, and anchored in Pender Harbour. No pollution [is] observed at this time."

In July it was reported that 37 metre Peri Yachts Fusion got into a tricky situation off Ibiza, when she started taking on water and was reportedly at risk of sinking. All eight passengers on board were rescued by the local emergency services with no injuries reported, but the captain stayed on board in an attempt to stop the yacht from sinking. Local sources suggest that the salvage efforts were successful, but the owner is still likely to face a large repair bill and a complicated insurance claim.

Fires that affect multiple yachts are mercifully rare, but 2016 has seen two already. Foremost of these is the fire at Marmaris marina that devastated two prominent superyachts on January 4. The blaze is understood to have originated on board the 70.68 metre Lürssen yacht The One at around 0200 local time before spreading to a neighbouring vessel, the 52 metre Al Jadaf superyacht Barbie. As stormy conditions battered the Turkish town, firefighters battled for several hours to extinguish the flames and prevent any damage to nearby yachts. Insurance firm Hiscox has since paid out $20m to the owner of Barbie, after the superyacht was written off as a total loss. Paul Miller, Hiscox’s director of marine underwriting, said Barbie was the largest superyacht claim that the insurance industry had dealt with in a while. He added it was pleasing that the claim had been resolved within 60 days and paid in full. He said: “Hopefully [this will] help the owner to reach closure from this traumatic incident.” Mr Miller confirmed that investigations into the cause of the fire were still ongoing but despite this, the claim involving Barbie was clear cut. “The boat caught fire, it rolled over, it was a total loss,” he said.

Fires that affect multiple yachts are mercifully rare, but 2016 has seen two already. Foremost of these is the fire at Marmaris marina that devastated two prominent superyachts on January 4.

The blaze is understood to have originated on board the 70.68 metre Lürssen yacht The One at around 0200 local time before spreading to a neighbouring vessel, the 52 metre Al Jadaf superyacht Barbie.

As stormy conditions battered the Turkish town, firefighters battled for several hours to extinguish the flames and prevent any damage to nearby yachts.

Insurance firm Hiscox has since paid out $20m to the owner of Barbie, after the superyacht was written off as a total loss. Paul Miller, Hiscox’s director of marine underwriting, said Barbie was the largest superyacht claim that the insurance industry had dealt with in a while. He added it was pleasing that the claim had been resolved within 60 days and paid in full.

He said: “Hopefully [this will] help the owner to reach closure from this traumatic incident.”

Mr Miller confirmed that investigations into the cause of the fire were still ongoing but despite this, the claim involving Barbie was clear cut. “The boat caught fire, it rolled over, it was a total loss,” he said.

Abu Dhabi Yacht Club was the site of another significant blaze in March. Eight yachts were reportedly destroyed in the fire, including three that measured more than 30 metres in length. The situation attracted national attention with UAE’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Saif Al Nahyan called in to oversee rescue efforts.

Abu Dhabi Yacht Club was the site of another significant blaze in March.

Eight yachts were reportedly destroyed in the fire, including three that measured more than 30 metres in length.

The situation attracted national attention with UAE’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Saif Al Nahyan called in to oversee rescue efforts.

Another Turkish yacht disaster to grab headlines this year was the fire in Ege Saray marina in Fethiye on January 21. Princess 95 motoryacht Queen Anna was filmed with huge plumes of smoke rising from her flaming superstructure as she was towed out to sea to reduce the risk of collateral damage. The 29 metre superyacht was seriously damaged by the fire that broke out at around 1200 local time, and her captain Vladimir Lopata was later taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the fire but local officials have launched an investigation.

Another Turkish yacht disaster to grab headlines this year was the fire in Ege Saray marina in Fethiye on January 21.

Princess 95 motoryacht Queen Anna was filmed with huge plumes of smoke rising from her flaming superstructure as she was towed out to sea to reduce the risk of collateral damage.

The 29 metre superyacht was seriously damaged by the fire that broke out at around 1200 local time, and her captain Vladimir Lopata was later taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the fire but local officials have launched an investigation.

St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands was the site of a superyacht fire in March, when 26 metre Positive Energy went up in flames. Luckily there were no other vessels in Positive Energy's immediate vicinity and the fire did not spread. A team of firefighters from the St Thomas Fire Department arrived on the scene to try and quell the fire, but their efforts were ultimately futile and the superyacht was eventually towed out to sea and left to burn out. Investigations as to the cause of the fire are ongoing.

St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands was the site of a superyacht fire in March, when 26 metre Positive Energy went up in flames. Luckily there were no other vessels in Positive Energy's immediate vicinity and the fire did not spread.

A team of firefighters from the St Thomas Fire Department arrived on the scene to try and quell the fire, but their efforts were ultimately futile and the superyacht was eventually towed out to sea and left to burn out. Investigations as to the cause of the fire are ongoing.